Tobacco-pipe cleaner.



E. J. TIFFANY.

TOBACCO PIPE CLEANER.

APPLwATIoN FILED JUNE 4.1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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THE NORRIS FETERS C0.. FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHING TUN, D. C

ELI J. TIFFANY, OF BENN'ING-TON, VERMONT.

TOBACCO-PIPE CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed June 4, 1914. Serial No. 842,849.

To @ZZ lwhom it may concern Be it known that I, ELI J. TIFFANY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bennington, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Pipe Cleaners, of which the following is a specific-ation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. v

The present invention relates to improvements in tobacco pipe cleaners and aims to provide an improved, simple, inexpensive and efficient device of this nature.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of scraper member or blade which will automatically conform to the interior bottom surface of the pipe bowl as well as the interior side surface thereof whereby the blade works over the entire interior surface of the bowl and a complete scraping and cleaning of the bowl is insured. p A further object of the invention is to provide an improved scraper member or blade of this character which can be readily inserted within a pipe bowl containing ashes without packing the ashes down into the pipe bowl.

An important novel feature of the invention also resides in the special construction whereby means is provided for holding a stem opening probe or pick.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof and the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts comprising the same will be understood from the hereinafter contained detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part here` of, and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

`In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side eleva tion of a pipe cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the position of parts when applied to the bowl of a pipe; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 through the handle or grip; and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of one of the scraper members. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the probe or pick.

The invention broadly contemplates a plurality of separate scraper members or blades each having a substantially straight intermediate portion to engage the interior side surface of the pipe bowl, and lower inwardly curved portions adapted to conform to and scrape the interior bottom surface of the pipe bowl, said lower inwardly curved portion being normally separated from each other to facilitate the insertion of the device within the pipe bowl containing tobacco and ashes without packing the tobacco and ashes down into the bowl of the pipe.

In the drawing I have illustrated a pre ferred embodiment of the invention, the particular construction shown comprising two of such flexible scraper members or blades oppositely disposed and connected together at their upper ends. Each blade has a substantially straight portion l to engage the inner side surface of the bowl and a lower inwardly curved portion 2 adapted to conform to and scrape the inner bottom surface of the bowl. The scraper members or blades preferably taper toward their lower ends and terminate in a blunt point. In the present instance, each cleaner member'or blade has an'integral upper portion 3 bent inwardly and terminating in a circular head 4, which are secured together and form an operating handle or grip for the device. The circular head portion 4 of the cleaner members or blades are each provided with a longitudinally extending corrugation 5, the corrugations 5 of the respective members being disposed opposite each other to form a central channel or groove 6 to receive and hold a stem opening probe or pick 7, said circular head portions being secured together preferably by rivets 9 as shown, located near their marginal side edges on opposite sides of the said central channel or groove 6. The probe 7 is shown as consisting of a rod circular in cross section with an operating head 10 at its upper end and with a needle pointed lower end 11. Preferably the probe 7 is of a size in cross section slightly greater than the diameter of the channel or groove so that when the probe is inserted in the groove the circular head portions are forced slightly from each other, said circular hea-d portions acting to grip the probe and constituting a clamp to maintain the probe in position within the channel against accidental displacement.

The flexible cleaning members or blades are preferably constructed of tempered spring steel, each blade consisting of a single relatively thin strip of steel. The blades can be conveniently made by stamping the same from a sheet and afterward bending the same tothe desired shape and tempering.

the blades normally stand farther apart than the internal diameter of the pipe bowl and the lower inwardly curved portions 2 are normally separated from each other as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. In the use of the device, as the same is inserted in the bowl of the pipe, the members or blades are forced inwardly and their spring tendency is exerted expansibly to maintain the same in contact with the interior surface of the pipe bowl. As the device is moved down into the bowl the relatively thin flexible blades of spring steel readily conform to the contour of the bowl opening,the lower inwardly curved portions 2 sliding down and across the curvature of the bottom to the central part thereof, sothat when the device is rotated each blade works over and scrapes the entire interior surface yof the bowl, a complete cleaning ythereof being thus insured, the side scraping edges of the relatively thin blades acting to remove ashes, charring, and gummy deposits from the interior surface of the bowl. At' the same time the arrangement is such that in the insertion of the device in the pipe bowl, ashes or tobacco contained therein will not be packed down into the bowl bythe device. In this connection it willv be observed that the lower inwardly curved portions are normally separated from each other, and as the device is moved down into the pipe bowl, said portionsv engage and slide down the lcurvature of the bottom.

` The probe or pick 7 is provided for the purpose of opening or freeing the stem opening from accumulation when found necessary. The head l0 of the probe is curved as vshown and of. a size to extend substantially coincident with and rest flat upon the top surface of the corrugated portion ofthe blades as yshown so that the same offers no obstruction when the probe is in position in the groove. c

In the particular embodiment of theinvention illustrated inthe drawings the device comprises two cleaner members or The substantially straight portions 1 of blades but I desire it to be understood that Yany number of cleaning members or blades may be employed as found desirable, and further that other minor changes and obvious modifications of the particular y,construction shown can be made without departing from the broad principle of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

Vlhat I claiml is:

'1. A device of the class described` includ ing a pair of flexible blades oppositely disposed with relation to each other, the blades having substantiallyV straight intermediate portions, lower portions curved inwardly toward each other, and integral upper portions bent inwardly and arranged flat against each other, the blades being connected at their upper ends, and provided with 'oppositely disposed longitudinclly extending grooves forming a channel adapted to receive a stem opening probe.

2. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a pipe stem probe, of `apair of flexible blades, each consisting of a thin strip of springy material having a substantially straight intermediate portion, a lower portion curved inwardly and an upper integral portion bent inwardly and terminating in an enlarged head portion, the blades being oppositely `disposedwith relation to each other with the said enlarged head portions secured flat against each.

other and constituting an operating handle, said enlarged head portions being provided with oppositely disposed longitudinally extending corrugations forming a channel to receive said stem. probe member, the diame ter of said groove being slightly less than the size of the probe in cross section whereby the enlarged head portions will act to clamp the probe vtherebetween when the probe is inserted in the channel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix myv signature inthe presence -of two witnesses.

ELI J. TIFFANY.

Witnesses:

ROBERT B. PIKE, D. A. GUILTINAN.

v Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. C. 

